Exquisite Archangel Discussion

1 week ago

You can't cast Wheel of Fate at all. Past in Flames will give it an empty flashback cost, just like its mana cost, and empty costs can't be paid

Yes, that's how it works

Yes, Exquisite Archangel will save your opponent. State-based-actions (SBAs) are checked and executed simultaneously. Destroying a creature with lethal marked damage and losing the game for 0 or less life are both SBAs. The Angel's effect will get applied and set your opponent's life to the starting total. Your opponent will choose whether to exile the Angel or put it into the graveyard

Yes, that's fine. Everyone always gets a chance to make responses before the top object on the stack starts resolving. You can keep responding with Reiterate while the original spell you want to copy is still on the stack somewhere.

1 week ago

Unfortunately it doesn't help against commander damage. Though technically you'll be safe for a fleeting moment right after the game first tries to make you lose, the game will check state-based-actions again after applying the Angel's effect and will make you lose for taking too much commander damage.

Yes, it will save you from Glorious End, etc. The "you lose" part of the effect gets replaced with exiling Exquisite Archangel and setting your life back to the starting total.

1 week ago

2) Commune with Lava: it says "until your next turn" not "until end of turn", so I can play it on my turn, play instants on my opponents' turns proceeding that, and then finish up on my next turn? Just confirming this one.

3) If I play Rolling Earthquake for say, X=80, and my opponent has an Exquisite Archangel out, would the angel save my opponent even though the angel would die too? I think it would but not 100% sure.

4) Reiterate: If I have tons of mana, can I repeatedly cast and buyback Reiterate and target the same spell on the same stack?

1 week ago

Exquisite Archangel reads "If you would lose the game, ..." not "If your life total would become less than 0" or something like that. I assume the wording about life after that part means it can only save you from losing a game because of life, but it doesn't say specifically.

Also, could it save you from Glorious End or other "you lose the game" cards?

2 weeks ago

Thanks for the massive comment Seraph_Six and a great deal of helpful advice, you've given me loads to think about. If you don't mind, I'll reply in reverse order :)

Burgeoning: I agree that this card usually only helps during the first few turns. However, when it CAN be used early, the advantage I get usually determines how the game ends. Therefore, I intend to keep it for now.

Elemental Bond: I love this card because it's cheap and gives me extra draw (which isn't something you get often when playing green). However, Soul of the Harvest would be a great addition to the deck's draw capabilities; so I've decided to replace Ruric Thar, the Unbowed with it.

Strionic Resonator: there are so many permanents this artifacts synchronizes with, that I wouldn't dream of parting with it in this deck. It can double the amount of sacrifices caused by the Eldrazi, it can generate twice the amount of dragons generated with Utvara Hellkite, it can help me draw additional cards from Elemental Bond, just to name but a few examples.

Domri Rade: I agree he's due to be replaced. Mostly he's in here because of his ridiculous ultimate. If I'd replace him with anything, it would probably be with Wurmcoil Engine.

Xenagos, the Reveler: He's truly been invaluable in this deck. Thanks purely to him and Selvala, Heart of the Wilds I've managed to both use Mayael AND summon something game- determining by turn 5-6. These cards will both remain in the deck.

Sylvan Caryatid/Rampant Growth: Getting rid of ramp? No, sorry. Sure, these mayb the weakest ramp cards but this deck is so dependent on large amounts of mana that I wouldn't want to consider getting rid of any of its current sources.

Void Winnower: I've considered this card before but decided to scrap it. I feel it's just a bit too much with the other cards preventing stuff in the deck. Besides, I think Angelic Arbiter is better.

Blightsteel Colossus: Way outside my price range and it also has infect (which has been banned by my playgroup).

Atarka, World Render: Actually, there are only three dragons in deck (four, if you would count Atarka too). Adding her I'd therefore consider to be an inferior choice over the other support options I've made. However, you might be pleased to hear she's the commander of one of my dragon decks (which I still need to post).

Well, that's it. Thanks for bearing with me and thanks for all your advice. I hope you agree that it's been put to good use. Thanks again and happy gaming!

2 weeks ago

Always love seeing a Mayael deck and how different people make them. Typically, I prefer at least 35-40 creatures just to bring that miss percentage down. You can mathematically assume that 40 creatures will give you a 2 choices out of that 5 almost every time.

That being said, here's a list of some of my favorite big Naya creatures:

1 month ago

The deck is looking pretty good. You got the master of cruelties + strionic resonator in there already which is huge. The question I'd ask you though is what do you want to focus on? Angels + Dragons, Angels + Demons, or Dragons and Demons? While you can splash a couple of each into the deck I've found Kaalia plays better if you focus on two tribes. (I myself do dragons/angels).

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